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One of the most disappointing things in the Bills' eighth straight non-playoff season was the lost opportunity for rookie Paul Posluszny to learn in the heat of the battle.
Buffalo's second-round draft choice, No. 34 overall out of Penn State, won the middle linebacker job in training camp, started the first three games and seemed to be adapting quite nicely to the pro game.
And then in the second quarter of that third game in New England, he suffered a broken left forearm. Because the Bills were so injury-depleted and needed some able bodies, coach Dick Jauron decided he couldn't afford to keep Posluszny on the active roster, so he was forced to place him on the season-ending injured reserve list.
Just like that, Posluszny — who could have played at least the last month of the year — was done after less than 2½ games, during which he was in on 25 tackles.
"It was miserable," Posluszny said of his three months of inactivity. "It was one of the worst years of my life by far. I had gotten hurt in college, but I never missed time. Maybe I couldn't finish a game, but I never missed a season like this.
"To start a couple of games and get a taste of it, and then not to be able to play anymore. ... You have a job that you love and someone tells you that you can't do it until next year, that's tough.''
He didn't get a chance to prove it, but Posluszny is considered a player with a bright future. The 6-foot-1, 238-pounder is the kind of middle linebacker the Bills can build their defense around, similar to the way Zach Thomas — who, like Poz, isn't the biggest or the fastest guy — once anchored Miami's defense.
John DiGiorgio did an admirable job filling in, but he's just not the same player Posluszny is, and the rookie could have helped the Bills be a little more stout against the run. While it would have been beneficial for Posluszny to have gotten the requisite rookie mistakes out of the way this year, it was not a wasted fall.
Buffalo's second-round draft choice, No. 34 overall out of Penn State, won the middle linebacker job in training camp, started the first three games and seemed to be adapting quite nicely to the pro game.
And then in the second quarter of that third game in New England, he suffered a broken left forearm. Because the Bills were so injury-depleted and needed some able bodies, coach Dick Jauron decided he couldn't afford to keep Posluszny on the active roster, so he was forced to place him on the season-ending injured reserve list.
Just like that, Posluszny — who could have played at least the last month of the year — was done after less than 2½ games, during which he was in on 25 tackles.
"It was miserable," Posluszny said of his three months of inactivity. "It was one of the worst years of my life by far. I had gotten hurt in college, but I never missed time. Maybe I couldn't finish a game, but I never missed a season like this.
"To start a couple of games and get a taste of it, and then not to be able to play anymore. ... You have a job that you love and someone tells you that you can't do it until next year, that's tough.''
He didn't get a chance to prove it, but Posluszny is considered a player with a bright future. The 6-foot-1, 238-pounder is the kind of middle linebacker the Bills can build their defense around, similar to the way Zach Thomas — who, like Poz, isn't the biggest or the fastest guy — once anchored Miami's defense.
John DiGiorgio did an admirable job filling in, but he's just not the same player Posluszny is, and the rookie could have helped the Bills be a little more stout against the run. While it would have been beneficial for Posluszny to have gotten the requisite rookie mistakes out of the way this year, it was not a wasted fall.
can't wait any longer!
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